Earlier this week, the NBA eclipsed the 30-million follower mark on Instagram. It might seem like a rather trivial feat to some, especially those without any sort of interest in social media, but it’s a big deal considering how it compares to the other three professional sports.

The NFL has 11.7 million followers. MLB has 4.5 million. The National Hockey League (NHL) has 3 million.

Yes, Instagram is a global application. Yes, the NBA has a much bigger global fan base than the other sports. Still, it’s impressive since everyone seems to love to hate the NBA for one reason or another.

Top Plays

It almost seems too easy to gain attraction when rising stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo jump over other another human in the middle of a game at Madison Square Garden. However, nobody crushes the game quite like the NBA when it comes to cool countdowns with the best highlights from biggest stars. It also helps there are at least five what-just-happened moments in essentially every single game.

Tributes

Unless you are an avid fan of a specific player or the entire roster of your favorite team, chances are you will not know anyone’s birthday. That’s why we have the NBA to remind us when an All-Star celebrates one.

With over 10 years of sports writing experience, Brett has covered some of the top local, regional, and national sporting events in the Heartland for both print and digital platforms. He is a graduate of Kansas State University and resides in Austin, Texas.